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Friday, May 19, 2017

The Living Church of God announced today that Roderick C. Meredith, 86, died late Thursday night. Meredith, LCG's presiding evangelist, was reported to have suffered from aggressive, terminal cancer.

We've known this day was coming for some time now, but it's still hard to know what to say.

Some individuals - usually members of LCG or the former Global Church of God - have consistently sung Meredith's praises. But many current and former COG-ers have difficulty finding positive things to say about the man's example.

Even Herbert Armstrong questioned Meredith's judgment when he expelled him from Church Administration in Pasadena and "exiled" him to Hawaii as a result of his draconian attitude and actions against the WCG ministry. HWA described Meredith as self-righteous, competitive, and covetous of power.

"... you were a harsh task master over the ministers. You, yourself find it difficult and perhaps impossible to TAKE what you dished out. Dozens of ministers would testify to that. You rubbed the fur the wrong way! That has been your life-style!" (Herbert Armstrong, letter to Rod Meredith dated March 14, 1980).

Former LCG evangelist Dibar Apartian has been quoted as saying that Meredith had not changed in the 40 years Apartian had known him. Apartian is said to have made his statement shortly before his death in 2010. From the Leona McNair libel judgment against Meredith (case spanning from the early 1980s until WCG's eventual payout in 1992) to Patrick and Elizabeth Scarborough's defamation case against LCG last year, it's hard to argue otherwise. Even without considering Meredith's departure from the Global Church of God. Or the Terry Ratzmann incident and fallout. Or the scores of members disfellowshipped. I could go on, but this hardly feels like the time to beat a dead horse.

In times like these, it's probably best to set our personal feelings aside and turn to the scriptures.

The Bible tells us that those who are sealed for salvation have received the Holy Spirit.

(Ephesians 1:13-14) "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

Those who have the Spirit are belong to God. And those who don't, well...

(Romans 8:9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

What is the evidence that one is in the flesh?

(Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

And, in contrast, what is the evidence that one has the Holy Spirit?

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

These are sobering thoughts to ponder.

(Matthew 7:15-20) Beware of false prophets, come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruit you will know them.

God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), and neither are we. We can't know Rod Meredith's heart, especially not what might have transpired as he contemplated his life during his final days. We pray that he eventually came to accept the grace he so frequently mocked.

Meredith, a sincere believer in the Armstrongist brand of Christianity, was a natural product of his theology and his environment. He believed that running this race would lead him to salvation. Do you? If so, you can stop reading and move on. But if not - if you have doubts about Meredith's eternal destiny, if you fear for his future - maybe it's time for you take a good, hard look at the path on which you are running.

(Hebrews 13:7) Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith.

We offer our sincere condolences to the Meredith family, and offer prayers for their peace and comfort. We also offer our ears to anyone who needs to talk.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )Acts 17:11
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WELCOME TO ABD

WELCOME!! As Bereans Did is a blog dedicated to a deeper investigation of the claims and doctrines of the Church of God movement. We call this movement "Armstrongism", for lack of a better name, after its founder Herbert W Armstrong.

I can't believe it's already anti-CHRISTMAS-time again in Armstrongism. Good thing it's FACTMAS-time here at ABD. Care to challenge yourself with the other side of the story?